Future Prospects of Smallholder Dairy Production: Pragmatic Evidence from Crop-Livestock Farming Systems of an Economically Transforming State in India

Doraisamy K.A,Narmatha N,Ramesh Saravanakumar V,Sakthivel K.M,Thirunavukkarasu D

doi:10.11144/javeriana.cdr16-84.fpsd

Abstract

In the context of structural transformation of Indian economy, we examined the patterns of income, migration, milk marketing, dairy trends and future plans at the household level in Tamil Nadu state in south India. The study finds that majority of the dairy households in various farming systems have poor landholdings; belong to low or middle income classes; have one migrant in their families, and diversified sources of income. Given this backdrop, continuing dairy activity in the near future differed based on farming system and market opportunities. The majority were not willing to motivate the next generation to take up dairying as a profession.

Highlights

IntroductionIn India, the contribution of agriculture sector (which encompasses livestock sector) to the national economy has declined from 30 to 14% in the last three decades with an increasing share of manufacturing and service sectors
In India, the contribution of agriculture sector to the national economy has declined from 30 to 14% in the last three decades with an increasing share of manufacturing and service sectors
This paper aims to comprehend the social economic conditions of farmers, their nature of dairy farming, milk production and marketing avenues, income pattern, migration dynamics of the dairy households, income pattern and role of non-farm sector in the household income and trends in dairying households, and the future course of dairying indifferent farming systems in the context of changes in composition of economy and urbanisation

Summary

Introduction

In India, the contribution of agriculture sector (which encompasses livestock sector) to the national economy has declined from 30 to 14% in the last three decades with an increasing share of manufacturing and service sectors. Smallholder dairying, a sub-sector of Indian agriculture, is a livelihood option for more than 75 million rural households (44% of rural households), is under a changing context. Increasing the productivity of dairy animals and tapping the emerging milk market in urban areas has often been considered as a sustainable pathway. This paper aims to comprehend the social economic conditions of farmers, their nature of dairy farming, milk production and marketing avenues, income pattern, migration dynamics of the dairy households, income pattern and role of non-farm sector in the household income and trends in dairying households, and the future course of dairying indifferent farming systems in the context of changes in composition of economy and urbanisation. The findings of this study are presented in “result” section. From above all a conclusion is drawn and is presented in last section of the paper

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion